Veneering



J. GREEN Jan. 10, 1933.

VENEERING Filed Nov. 8, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet l Inven n Jan, 10, 1933. j R EN 1,894,171

VENEERING Filed Nov. 8, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 0/ Egg M Fig-7 {ZZZ/ ZZZ Inventor Jan. 10, 1933. J GREEN 1,894,171

VENEERING Filed Nov. 8, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 I IWI l Jan. 10, 1933. V J GREEN 1,894,171

VENEERING Filed Nov. 8. 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Invenlor Joshua Green, 0,644,! a. M

Patented Jan. 10, 1933 STATES PATENT QFFECE JOSHUA GREEN, F DALSTON, LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR, IBY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO MALENITE INDUSTRIES LIMITED, OF LONDON, ENGLAND VENEERING Application filed November 8, 1928, Serial No. 317,959, and in Great Britain November 8, 1927.

, ers of veneer arranged so as to form an uneven surface without the aid of a die, and then cutting, planing, sanding or grinding the veneer layers in substantial parallelism with the foundation layer so as to produce a smooth surface formed solely by revealed portions ofsome or all of the layers of veneer.

In a suitable arrangement for carrying out the invention for producing veneered surfaces on a conical structure, a strip of plywood is wound spirally on a conical wood foundation or former with the adjacent turns overlapping, the said turns being secured together and to the former by a suitable cement or adhesive, such as glue. This formation results in a veneer with a stepped or ridged surface, and in order to render this surface smooth, the steps or ridges are removed with a suitable tool, with the result that all the turns of the spiral are cut through diagonally so that the different plies of plywood are exposed to view and exhibit lines of different directioned grain side by side, and including lines betwen the lines of grain due to the layers of glue. By darkening the glue, for instance, by a black pigment, the result will be that a still darker line will be exposed between the lines of grain.

The foundation or former, instead of having its surface straight longitudinally, as is the case with the cone formation described above may have it curved; or, the foundation or former may be barrel-shaped, in which case a strip of plywood will be wound from each end of the said former and meet about midway between said ends, where the terminal turn of both windings is covered by a winding of preferably Wider strip.

The veneered structure may be employed as a whole, or panels of any desired outline may be cut therefrom.

For producing fiat veneered surfaces, a

series of strips of ply-wood are applied and pressed on to a flat wood foundation or former, in parallelism, with the adjacent strips overlapping to produce a stepped formation and cemented together and to the foundation, and cut through diagonally in a plane substantially parallel to the foundation similarly to the conical or curved structures hereinbefore described, to produce a. smooth surface.

In another arrangement, two separate sheets of plywood are employed to form a veneer, one of which sheets is made with a series of substantially parallel cuts extending from one edge of the sheet nearly to the other edge, thus producing a series of strips c011- nected together at one end; or, they may be connected at both ends. The alternate strips, which form two series, are then separated and the second sheet of plywood passed between them so that the said two series lie on opposite faces thereof and are cemented thereto the two connected sheets being also applied and cemented to the wood foundation. The whole structure is then subjected to pressure to press the strips into and deform the intermediate or uncut sheet of plywood, and the upper strips, together with the bent-up intervening portions of the said intermediate sheet, are then planed or sanded off. It is to be understood that in this arrangement one or both of the sheets may be ordinary veneer.

It is also to be understood that in any of the foregoing structures employing strips of plywood, such strips are not necessarily made with straight edges, but these may have a waved or undulating form.

From the foregoing, it will be understood that veneered surfaces are produced having substantially parallel zones of different kinds of grain.

A veneer surface may, however, be produced having a kind of mosaic effect, and for this purpose pieces of plywood or veneer of any required outline are made use of and are applied and cemented in overlapping formation to a sheet of plywood or veneer which may be cemented to a foundation, the whole being subjected to pressure to press the said pieces partially into the plywood or veneer and into one another, after which the whole is laned or sanded to a smooth surface.

n all the modifications of the invention, the use of plywood has been described, but it is to be understood that layers of veneer can be superposed so as to act as the equivalent of the plywood. I

In the arrangement hereinbefore described in which two sheets of plywood, or a sheet of ywood and a sheet of veneer, are employed, with one of the said sheets formed with a series of cuts extending from one edge of the sheet so as to form strips connected together at one end, with the alternate strips applied to the opposite faces of the other sheet, we may slit the plain sheet to form tongues of any outline designed to lie upon and be cemented to the outer surfaces of one set of strips of the other sheet or be interlaced therewith, before the subsequent pressing and planing operations.

In practice, it is found that in dealing with structure comprising veneers applied to flat foundation blocks, owing to the tendency of said blocks to warp, it is difficult to present the veneers thereon with a sufficiently level surface to the machines for treating them to obtain regular graining effects.

The structure is, therefore, mounted upon a surface plate so that the whole of the underside thereof is maintained in contact with the upper surface of the said plate, whilst the structure is subjected to any of the operations hereinbefore set forth.

In a suitable arrangement, the surface plate comprises a base or foundation block of metal having level upper and lower surfaces in parallelism, which is arranged to supportthe structure during the machining process to which the latter is subjected to obtain regular raining effects.

e structure is secured to the surface plate either by screws and/or clamps so as to draw the whole of the under surface of the structure into contact with the upper surface of the plate. The clamps are applied across or around the edges of the structure and plate, and the screws applied either through the upper surface of the structure, or from the lower surface of the plate.

To enable the invention to be fully understood it will now be described by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an elevation showing a veneered structure in accordance with the invention made from a strip of plywood wound spirally upon a conical foundation or former, with the adjacent turns overlapping.

Figures 2 and 3 are similar longitudinal sections through the plywood strip and former, illustrating different stages in the preparation of the veneered structure.

Figures 4 and 5 are views similar to a portion of Figure 2, illustrating modifications of the spirally wound strip.

Figure 6 is a section illustrating the arrangement wherein a series of overlapping strips of plywood are applied to a flat foundation or former.

Figure 7 is a section illustrating the production of a veneered structure having a mosaic efi'ect.

Figure 8 is an elevation of a flat veneered structure formed in accordance with the invention involving the employment of two sheets of plywood, one of which is slit to form a series of connected strips, the alternate strips being applied on the opposite faces of the other sheet.

Figures 9 and 10 are elevations of the said out sheet and the solid sheet of plywood, respectively.

Figures 11, 12 and 13 are edge views illustrating different stages in the preparation of the veneered structure illustrated in Figure 8.

Figure 14 is a section on the line I ls-14, Figure 8.

Figure 15 is a view similar to Figure 8 illustrating a variation in the graining effect produced by a modified arrangement of the slit and solid sheets illustrated in Figures 9 and 10.

Figure 16 is a section on the line 16-16, Figure 15.

Figures 17 and 18 are views similar to Figures 13 and 14, respectively, but showing the slit and solid interengaging sheets made of ordinary veneer instead of plywood.

Figures 19 and 20 are views of sheets similar to those illustrated in Figures 9 and 10, respectively, but with the sheet illustrated in Figure 20 slit similarly to the sheet illustrated in Figure 19 and Figure 21 illustrates the manner in which the said two sheets may be interenga-ged.

Figure 22 is an elevation illustrating a slight modification of the veneered structure illustrated in Figure 8.

Figure 23 is a section on the line 23-23, Figure 22.

Figure 24 is an elevation of the slit sheet employed in conjunction with a solid sheet to produce the veneered structure illustrated in Figure 22.

Figure 25 is a view showing portions of the slit sheet removed therefrom.

Figures 26 and 27 are sections similar to Figure 23, but illustrating various stages in the preparation of the veneer illustrated in Figure 22.

Figure 28 illustrates in plan a piece of wire mesh which, according to this invention, may be pressed intoany of the veneered structures prior to the planing operation to produce the imitation inlaid effect.

F i re 29 is a view similar to Figure 6, showing a piece of the wire mesh in position upon the structure.

Figure 30 illustrates the finished surface of a panel produced in accordance with the method illustrated in Figure 29.

Figures 31 and 32 are views similar to Figures 29 and 30, but illustrating the modification of pressing a piece of wire mesh into a panel produced in accordance with Figures 13 and 15.

Figure 33 is a view of the finished surface of a panel produced in accordance with the method illustrated in Fi ures 19 to 21, but in which a piece of the wire mesh is pressed into the surface of the structure before the machining operation, and

Figures 34L and 35 are views similar to Figures 31 and 32, but illustrating the modified method in which a piece of wire mesh is pressed into the surface of the'structure according to the method illustrated in Figure 7.

Referringto Figures 1 to 3, a is a strip of plywood and Z) the conical foundation or former of wood on which the said strip is wound spirally with the adjacent turns overlapping and producing the stepped or ridged surface indicated in Figure 2, the said turns being secured together and to the former b by a suitable cement or adhesive, such as glue. The steps or ridges are then removed by a suitable tool, for instance, by turning the former in a lathe, the turns of the spiral strip being cut through diagonally and producing the smooth surface indicated in Figure 3, so that the different plies of the plywood a are exposed to view, as indicated in Fi are 1 and exhibit lines of differently directioned grain side by side and including lines due to the layers of glue between said lines of grain. By darkening the glue, say, by a black pigment, a still darker line will be produced between the lines of grain.

Figure 4 illustrates the arrangement of the spiral strip a on a former curved longitudinally and resulting in a correspondingly curved veneer, the dotted line 0 indicating the line of cut through the said strip.

Figure 5 shows the arrangement of the strip of plywood on a barrel-shaped foundation or former, in which two strips of plywood a, a are employed, wound from each end'of the former and meeting at a point about midway between said ends, the meeting turns of the two spirals being covered by a winding cl of strip, preferably wider than either of the strips a, a

As hereinbefore stated, the veneered structures above described may be employed as a whole or panels of any desired outline may be cut therefrom.

Figure 6 illustrates the arrangement where a series of strips a of plywood are applied in parallelism and pressed on to a flat foundation Z) with the adjacent strips overlapping to produce a stepped formation and cemented together and to the said foundation, the said strips being then cut through diagonally,

similarlyto the conical structure shown in Figure 2, to produce a flat smooth surface exhibiting lines of differently direotioned grain side by side. V

In Figure 7 a a are the pieces of ply-- wood or veneer of any desired outline which are applied and cemented to the flat wood foundation 6 in overlapping formation as shown and then pressed and subjected to a planing or levelling operation to produce a mosaic effect. Instead of being applied directly to the foundation, the pieces a may be applied to a piece of ply-wood cemented to the foundation.

Referring now to Figures 8 to 14, h, Figure 9, and 2', Figure 10, are the two separate sheets of ply-wood employed to make a veneered structure, the sheet It being made with a series of parallel slits or cuts 7' extending from one edge nearly to the other edge, thus producing a series of similar strips connected together at one end, the alternate strips being indicated by the letters l: and The slits j need not, however, be extended to one edge, so that the strips is, /c in this case will be connected at both ends. The alternate strips is, 70 which form two series, are then separated and the uncut sheet of plywood 2' passed between them, so that the two series of strips 70, 70 he on opposite faces of the said sheet, as indicated in Figure 11, and to which they are cemented, the two connected sheets then being applied and cemented to the flat wood foundation 6. The whole structure is then subjected to pressure to deform the sheet i, as indicated in Figure 13. The upper strips 73, k together with the bentup intervening portions of the sheet 2', are then planed or ground oil, with the result that if the foundation has been secured to a surface plate, regular lines of grain will be exhibited, as illustrated in Figure 8, if the two sheets of plywood are of similar thickness. By employing a sheet of plywood h of less thickness than the sheet i, a slightly difi erent grain effect will be produced, as illustrated in Figures 15, the levelling operation revealing the upper and lower layers of the sheet 71. Figures 14 and 16 show clearly the relative arrangement of the diiferent layers exhibiting the different lines of grain shown in Figures 8 and 15, respec tively.

Although the sheets 7L and i have been de scribed as being formed of plywood, it is to be understood that they may be formed of single veneers as indicated in Figures 1? and 18, Figure 17 corresponding with Figure 13, that is, before the planing or levelling operation, and Figure 18 corresponding with Figure 1%, that is, after the planing or levelling operation.

Figures 19 and 20 show sheets of plywood or veneer h and 2' similar to those illustrated in Figures 9 andlO, respectively, except that the Bheete' is slit similarly to the sheet h to produce similarand alternating strips 1, E which are inter-engaged with the alternating strips k, k of the sheet h as indicated in Fig-- ure 21, the strips Z being laid and cemented between the sets of alternate strips k, 10 whilst the strips l are laid upon andcemented to the said strips 7:, 1: The whole structure including the foundation is then subjected to pressure and then planed, or

ound by a sandingmachine, thereby prouucing a different graining effect from that iilustrated in Figure 8, or, the strips Z, Z and k, k can be plaited together-to obtain another graining effect.

Although the strips k, is, Z, l are illustrated with straight edges, it is to be understood that the said edges may be of undulating or other form. 7

To produce grain effects in which regular or irregular figures are repeated at intervals to form a pattern, a slit sheet and a solid sheet of plywood or veneer are employed as in the structure described with reference to Figures 8 to 14. This arrangement is illustrated in Figures 22 to 27, in which Figure 22 shows a. regular figure comprising a series of alternating concentric circular areas of differing grain. For this purpose, the sheet h, Figure 24', is formed with concentric circular slits m producing a series of independent alternating annular portions n, n, n and 0, 0, to each of which series from opposite sides of the sheet are applied adhesive strips or tapes p, p to hold them in their relative concentric positions. The connected portions n, n, n are then separated from the connected portions 0, 0 as indicated by Figure 25, and they are then again arranged in register on the fundation b with the solid sheet ibetween them, to both of which they are cemented, the parts assuming the position indicated in Figure 26. They are then connected to a surface plate and subjected to pressure so that they are caused to assume the position illustrated in Figure 27 and then subjected to a planing or sanding action, resulting in the graining effect exhibited in Figures 22 and 23.

In a modification of the invention, the upper surface of the structures above described may be additionally treated being impressed by means of a length of wire net-' ting which is pressed into the surface of the structure'and removed before the planing operation.- The knots in the netting produce indentations which affect the resultant inlaid effect, the layers of veneer or plywood encroaching on the next adjacent layer at the ints where the knots occur.

One form of wire mesh is illustrated in Figure 28 in which the knots are formed by the overlapping portions of the transversely disposed wires 7, s which are welded together.

When a piece of wire mesh illustrated in Figure 28 is placed above the structure as illustrated in Figure 29 and is pressed thereinto prior to the planing operation the knots cause certain portions of the veneers to be pressed to a lower ievel than others with the result that the imitation inlaid effect of the finished panel is modified at the points indicated at t in Figure 30.

Similarly the pressing of a piece of wire mesh into the structure shown in Figure 31 prior to the planing operation produces a modified efi'ect in the surface of the finished panel,as indicated at the points t, Figure 32.

The pressing of a piece of wire mesh intc the upper surface of the structure illustrated in Figure 21 prior to the planing operation, modifies the imitation inlaid effect of the finished panel, as indicated at the points t in Figure 33.

In Figure 34 a piece of the wire mesh is illustrated in position upon the upper surface of a structure such as is illustrated in Figure 7 prior to the planing operation, and in this method the wire mesh is pressed into the said surface from the position shown in Figure 34 and the upper surface of the structure is then planed along the line indicated at 0. The resultant finished surface of the panel is thus modified at the points t indicatedin Figure 35.

It is to be understood that for effecting the planing operations hereinbefore referred to, what is known as a rotary disc planing machine is preferred, and more particularly, for planing or preparing the foundation blocks for the veneers, as more truly level surfaces are obtained by such a machine than by a panel planing machine, and moreover,

the cutters of a rotary disc planing machine effect a slight scoring of the planed surface which is advantageous for the subsequent cementing of the veneers or plywood thereto.

It is to be understood that the term foundation employed throughout the specification and claims refers to the layer or superposed layers of wood forming a backing for the veneer layer or layers to be cut, planed or ground, and which backing may have the surface in contact with the said veneer layer or iayers also affected by such cutting, planing or grinding operation, whilstthe other surface of the backing is left plain or untreated and serves in some cases to enable the structure to be supported under the said cutting, planing er grinding operation, or under pressing operations prior thereto, or to receive a surface plate to enable it to be supported I claim: i

1. A method of producing veneered struc tures having an imitation inlaid effect, which comprises building upon a face of a foundation layer a composite veneer surface formed of two separate layers of wood, cutting one of said layers to form a series of strips, inserting the other layer between the alternate strips of said out layer, securing said layers together, subjecting the whole structure to pressure so as to press the strips into and deform the intermediate layer and then cutting away one series of said strips and the intervening portions of the intermediate layer.

2. A method of producing veneered structures having an imitation inlaid efiect which comprises cementing a plurality of veneer strips in overlapping relationship to one another upon a relatively substantial foundation layer of wood and cutting the said strips to produce a smooth surface in substantial parallelism to the foundation, which is formed of revealed portions of said strips.

3. A method of producing veneered structures having an imitation inlaid efiect which comprises cementing at least one veneer strip in the form of at least one spiral with overlapping windings to the circumference of a relatively substantial tubular foundation of wood and cutting the said strip to produce a smooth surface in substantial parallelism to the surface of the foundation, which is formed of revealedportions of the said strip.

4. A method of producing veneered structures having an imitation inlaid effect which comprises forming slits in a sheet of veneer wood, arranging at least one other sheet of veneer so as to extend through the said slits with portions of the slit veneer lying above the second veneer and portions lying below the same, cementing the said veneers to a relatively'substantial'foundation layer of wood with the aid of pressure and cutting away a portion of the veneers to produce a smooth surface in substantial parallelism to the foundation, which reveals portions of atleast two of the veneer layers.

5. A.method of producing veneered structures having an'imitation inlaid effect which comprises forming slits in a sheet of veneer wood and arranging at least one other sheet of veneer so as to extend through the said slits with portions of the slit veneer lying above the second veneer and portions lying below the same and cementing the saic veneers to a relatively substantial foundation 7 layer of wood with the aid of pressure, pressing portions of the upper veneer surface into at least one of the underlying layers and cut ting away material from the uneven surface thus formed for a depth equal at least to the deepest pressed veneer surface so as to produce a smooth surface in substantial parallelism to the foundation, which reveals portions of at least two of the veneer layers.

6. A method of producing veneered structures having an imitation inlaid effect which comprises forming slits in at least two sheets of veneer wood, interlacing the strip portions of the veneers thus formed with one another, cementing the veneers with the aid of pressure to a relatively substantial foundation layer, and cutting away a portion of the veneers to produce a smooth surface in layer, pressing portions ofthe upper veneer surface into at least one ofthe underlying layers and cutting away mater al from the uneven surface thus formed for a depth equal at least to the deepest pressed veneer surface so as to produce a smooth surface in substantial parallelism to the foundation, which reveals portions of at least two of the veneer layers.

' 8. A method of producing veneered structures having an imitation inlaid effect which comprises cementing a plurality of pieces of veneer wood in overlapping relation to one another upon a relatively substantial foundation layer'of wood, applying pressure to the pieces of veneer so as to press them into one another, and cutting away a portion of the veneer pieces to produce a smooth surface in substantial parallelism to the foundation, which revealsportions of at least two.

of the pieces of veneer.

9. A method of producing veneered structures having an imitation inlaid effect which comprises cementing a plurality of pieces of veneer wood in overlapping relationto one,.

another upon a relatively substantial foundation layer of wood, applying pressure to the pieces of veneer so as to press them into one another, pressing portions of the upper veneer surface into at least one of the underlying layers and cutting away material from the uneven surface thus formed for a depth equal at least to the deepest pressed veneer surface so as to produce a smooth surface in substantial parallelism to the foundation,

which reveals portions of at least two of the veneer layers.

10. A method of producing veneered structures having an imitation inlaid effect which comprises cementing pieces of veneer wood above and beneath a veneer sheet, cementing the composite structure thus formed to a relatively substantial foundation layer, pressing the veneers into one anotherand cutting away a portion of the veneers to produce a-smooth surface in substantial parallelism to the foundation, which reveals portions of at least two veneers. I

11. A method of producing veneered structures having an imitation inlaid effect which comprises cementing pieces of veneer wood We I above a veneer sheet, cementing the com osite structure thus formed to a relatively su tantial foundation layer of wood, pressing the veneers into one another and cutting away a portion of the veneers to produce a smooth surface in substantial parallelism to the foundation, which reveals portions of at least two veneers.

12. A method of producing veneered strucd tures having an imitation inlaid effect which comprises cementing pieces of veneer wood beneath a veneer sheet, cementing the composite structure thus formed to a relatively substantial foundation layer of wood, press 45 ing the veneers into one another and cutting away a portion of the veneers to produce a smooth surface in substantial parallelism to the foundation, which reveals portions of at least two veneers.

' 13. A method of producing veneered structures having an imitation inlaid effect which comprises forming a composite structure of at least two layers of wood, one of which is arelatively substantial foundation layer and '3 at least one of which is of veneer wood disposed unevenly to at least one face of the foundation layer, firmly securing the foundation layer to a base plate and cutting material from the uneven face only of thestructure to produce a smooth surface in substantial parallelism to the foundation, which reveals portions of at least two of the layers of wood.

14. A method of producing veneered structures having an imitation inlaid effect which comprises cementing a plurality of separate veneer strips in partially overlapping relationship to one another upon a relatively substantial foundation layer of wood at an inclination thereto and cutting the said strips to produce a smooth surface in substantial parallelism to the foundation which surface is formed of revealed portions of said strips.

15. A method of producing veneered struc- "f tures having an imltation inlaid effect which comprises cementing a plurality of separate pieces of veneer wood in partially overlapping relationship to one another upon a relatively substantial foundation layer of wood with at least one of said pieces disposed at an inclination to said foundation, applying pressure to the pieces of veneer so as to press them into one another, and cutting away a 'portion of the veneer pieces to produce a smooth surface in substantial parallelism'to the foundation which surface reveals portions of at least two of the pieces of veneer.

16. A method of producing veneered structures having an imitiation inlaid effect which 5 comprisescementing a plurality of separate veneer strips in partially overlapping relationship to one another upon a relatively substantial foundation layer of wood at an inclination thereto, pressing a wire mesh into the exposed surface of the veneers, removing said mesh and cutting the said strips to produce a smooth surface in substantial parallelism to the foundation which surface is formed of revealed portions of said strips.

17. A method of producing veneered struc- 7 tures having an imitation inlaid effect which comprises forming slits in a sheet of veneer wood, arranging at least one, other sheet of veneer so as to extend through the said slits with portions of the'slit veneer lying above 615 the second veneer and portions lying below the same, cementing the said veneers to a relatively substantial foundation layer of wood with the aid of pressure, pressing a wire mesh into the exposed surface of the veneers, re- '1 moving said mesh and cutting away a portion of the veneers to produce a smooth surface in substantial parallelism to the foundation which surface reveals portions of at least two of the veneer layers.

18. A method of producing veneered structures having an imitation inlaid effect which comprises forming slits in at least two sheets of veneer wood, interlacing the strip portions of the veneers thus formed with one another, cementing the veneers with the aid of pressure to a relatively substantial foundation layer, pressing a wire mesh into the exposed surface of the veneers, removing said mesh and cutting away a portion of the veneers to 16 produce a smooth surface in substantial parallelism to the foundation which surface reveals portions of at least two of the veneer layers.

19. A method of producing veneered struc-' 1 tures having an imitation inlaid effect which comprises cementing a plurality of separate pieces of veneer wood in partially overlaping relationship to one another upon a relatively substantial foundation layer of wood with at least one of said pieces disposed at an inclination to said foundation, applying pressure to the pieces of veneer so as to press them into one another, pressing a wire mesh into the exposed surface of the veneers, re-' movng said mesh and cutting away a portion of the veneer pieces to produce a smooth surface in substantial parallelism to the foundation which surface reveals portions of at least two of the pieces of veneer.

JOSHUA GREEN. 

